Ghana: Discrimination, Violence against LGBT People

Some Reforms, but Colonial-Era Law Should be Repealed

(Accra, January 8, 2018) – Ghanaians who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) suffer widespread discrimination and abuse both in public and in family settings. While some Ghanaian officials have publicly called for an end to violence based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the government has yet to repeal a colonial-era law that criminalizes same-sex activity.

The 72-page report, "'No Choice but to Deny Who I Am': Violence and Discrimination against LGBT People in Ghana," shows how retention of section 104(1)(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, prohibiting and punishing "unnatural carnal knowledge," and failure to actively address violence and discrimination, relegate LGBT Ghanaians to effective second-class citizenship. Police officials and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) have taken some steps to protect LGBT people. But they are still frequent victims of physical violence and psychological abuse, extortion, and discrimination in many aspects of their daily life.